Abstract

Background: In India, Ayurveda is a commonly practiced form of complementary and alternative medicine.

Aim and Objective: The study was conducted to gauge perceptions of allopathic doctors toward Ayurvedic medicine including their potential drug interaction with conventional pharmacotherapy.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among the physicians practicing in New Delhi. The participants were included if they satisfy both the criteria: (1) MBBS as minimum qualification and (2) member of All India General Practitioner’s Association, Delhi chapter. The questionnaire included questions related to expertise of the physician, duration of clinical practice, and explored the perceptions of the physicians on potential adverse drug reactions (ADR) and drug interactions of Ayurvedic/herbal formulations. The questionnaire was made available through Google Forms online platform link of which was shared with participants through Email/WhatsApp. A time frame of 14 days was offered to the participants to respond.

Results: A total of 87 among 214 physicians (40.65%) responded to the questionnaire-based survey. Majority (49/87, [56.32%]) had more than 10 years of clinical practice. Thirty-seven physicians (42.53%) admitted they enquire about medication history of the patient. Among them, only 17 physicians (17/87, [19.54%]) consider herbal/Ayurvedic formulations taken by the patients. As per their observation, Chyawanprash was the most common product used by the patients (13/17, [76.48%]) followed by Amla juice (8/17, [47.05%]), Triphala Churna (7/17, [41.18%]), and Aswagandhi (3/17, [17.64%]). Among 17 physicians who considered Ayurvedic medication history, six reported suspected ADR with Ayurvedic formulations and three reported potential drug interactions between Ayurvedic formulations and allopathic medicines, namely, loss of seizure control and analgesic effect, excessive bleeding.

Conclusion: The present study revealed that experienced allopathic practitioners do consider adverse reaction of allopathic medication but sometimes overlook the concomitant use of Ayurvedic or herbal formulations in the Indian population. There is a need of initiatives to foster awareness among physicians about soliciting Ayurvedic medication history from their patients.

Key words: Physician; Medication History; Ayurveda